The Dirt on Tara

I want to steer off topic for a moment and share with all of my glorious readership the struggle my sister is going through. She has her own blog dedicated to healthy living, so please head on over and show her your support. Her plight is something that affects her quality of life, makes daily tasks difficult and needs a good deal of light shed upon it. My sister Tara suffers an ailment known as Chiari Malformation, which clearly causes a great deal of hardship for those who suffer from such.

Chiari malformations (CMs) are defects in the structure of the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that controls balance. The cerebellum and parts of the brain stem normally sit in an indented space at the lower rear of the skull. When part of the cerebellum is located lower than normal, it is called a Chiari malformation.

CMs tend to develop when the bony space is smaller than normal, causing the cerebellum and brain stem to be pushed down into the upper spinal canal. This causes pressure on the cerebellum and brain stem and can affect functions controlled by these areas and block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which is the clear liquid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord—to and from the brain.

More information about Chiari Malformation can be found here:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chiari/detail_chiari.htm

Conquer Chiari
http://www.conquerchiari.org/education/chiari-faqs.html


Please send her positive vibes and keep her in your thoughts. To follow her story, please subscribe to her blog at Positivity Filter with Tara
http://positivityfilterwithtara.blogspot.com

Clearly, we're all in this life together, so the next time you're out hiking in the woods or lounging or doing whatever you love, remember be thankful for your blessings and opportunities and remember that there are folks out there who might not be so lucky. Keep a positivity filter on your life! Thanks for checking us out. Thanks for reading. Peace.